Should I See a Therapist?

We have all experienced tough times, stressful situations, and bad mental health days at one time in our lives or another. These feelings, however, are typically temporary, meaning we are likely to find ourselves feeling back to normal when we are done processing these emotions. What are we to do, though, when we can't seem to shake these feelings? Maybe you have been feeling sad for what feels like weeks now. Maybe you have been feeling anxious for what feels like forever. Or maybe you just can't seem to recover after experiencing a tough loss. Whatever feelings you may be struggling to shake off, therapy just may be the answer you have been searching for.

What is Therapy?

Therapy involves a patient meeting with a mental health professional to discuss and find a resolution for a number of mental health problems they may be experiencing, such as trauma, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, or depression. Your therapist will work to develop a confidential, trusting relationship with you. Therapy can be a huge step forward for people who are wanting to work toward a healthier mindset and improve their overall quality of life. There are many different types of therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. The type of therapy you encounter will differ depending on your unique situation.

The most common form of therapy is known as psychotherapy or "talk therapy". This form of therapy involves a client and therapist talking through the emotions, feelings, and situations the client is dealing with. While talking through these emotions, feelings, and situations; the therapist will help the client develop a better understanding of what is going on within their minds, develop a diagnosis if they are experiencing a mental health issue, and learn coping mechanisms in order to get through tough situations in life and avoid negative thought processes that may be contributing to the client's struggles.

When Should I Seek Therapy?

Your mental health and wellbeing are a crucial part of living your healthiest and highest quality life. Seeking the help of a therapist is not a sign of weakness, despite what the outdated stigmas may have said in the past. The health of your mind is just as important as the health of your body. The two actually heavily depend on each other for proper functioning. How do you know when it is the right time to seek therapy, though?

Therapy can be beneficial for many different people in a variety of different situations. There are a few signs you can look for if you are on the fence about seeking the help of a therapist, though. These signs include:

• Struggles with regulating your emotions. We all experience feelings of sadness, anger, and stress. When you feel as though those emotions are controlling you though, it may be time to seek the help of a therapist. When these emotions become in control, they can lead to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or anger management issues. Therapy can give you the skills and tools you need to regulate your emotions, develop stronger emotional awareness, catch negative thought processes that may be leading to your struggles, and increase your feelings of self-compassion- getting you back on track to living your best life.

• You find yourself seeking comfort in external substances. If you are finding yourself using alcohol, drugs, sex, or some other substance to get through the struggles you are experiencing, therapy may be able to help you. In therapy, you will learn tools and coping mechanisms that will help you deal with tough emotions, feelings, and situations, in a healthy and productive way. If you have developed an addiction from your substance use, your therapist will be able to help you find the right treatment to begin your path to recovery.

• Your relationships are struggling. When someone is struggling with emotional regulation, a toxic mindset, substance use, or another mental health issue, their relationships will likely also begin to suffer. Therapy can help you work through these issues and learn tools and strategies to developing healthy, new relationships and strengthening the relationships you already have. In therapy, you will learn to understand negative thought patterns and toxic mindsets that may be causing issues, develop stronger communication skills, and strengthen your self-confidence to grant you the courage to strengthen and develop new and existing relationships.

• Your motivation and drive are diminishing. Motivation can come and go. When your work is beginning to suffer from a lack of motivation, though, therapy may be just what you need to get back on track. Your therapist can help you develop new patterns of thinking to help you fight through a lack of motivation and prevent behavioural issues like procrastination.

• You have gone through a traumatic event. When you go through a traumatic event, therapy can help you process the event, explore your emotions and feelings about it, and learn new thought processes to help change how you view the event. A therapist will provide you with a nonjudgmental and confidential environment to allow you to freely explore how the traumatic event has impacted you.

• Your mental health is taking a toll on your physical health. We often do not realise how important our mental health is to our physical health. When your mental health is struggling, you may find it hard to find the motivation to do the small things to take care of yourself like eating healthy, getting in your exercise, or getting enough sleep. Therapy can help you figure out what is going on in your mind that is affecting these parts of your physical health.

• Your mental health is negatively impacting your overall quality of life. Any time your mental health is beginning to take a toll on your quality of life is a great time to seek the help of a therapist. In therapy, you can figure out why you are thinking the way you are thinking, learn how to change negative thinking patterns, and find treatment if you are experiencing a mental health issue that is causing problems.

When You're Ready to Seek Therapy

Seeking therapy is a huge step forward in your journey toward a better, healthier life. Our therapists are highly experienced and compassionate individuals who are available now, find the right therapists for you.